Arizona weekly citizen., 1887-08-06
Are the Revised Statutes Legal.

All Legislatures are governed by near " the same rules concerning the crea- ton and development of the laws enact ed oy them. and one of the most i'm poItant of these certain and fixed regu- ihilohs Is, that journal shall be kept m winch Is recorded the circlmstauces which give the necessary validity 10 laws passed m the particular hons. winch acts upon those laws,
 The l4th Legislature is supnosed fin have considered many bills presented to the two branches thereof and. by i,s direction, R revision of the existing laws was made, and recently n code comprising such revised and much new i.W, has been sent to a limited number Territorial Secretary.
 The Beit has repeatedly stated and proved that no journals, which fill the requirement before expre sed were sept by the last legislature snd from this Tact arises at once the the question as to whether or not the new code csn be of any legal value. There exists no lawful record of the daily proceedings of that body; sud many laws not found in this code have been stated to have been passed by members of the House and Council who were intimately connected with the laws they mention.
 An examination of the history of the code cannot but impress anyone with the knowledge that grave errors were committed. Three men were intrusted with the revision Of the great amount of work that has been gradually construct. ef since the territory was organized. They hurriedly wrote out a new law; rushed It into the House: the clerk takes It up and commences to read it-fnd- ing that its reading would occupy per hsps the entire day. some member pro- poses that It be considered read and the 6lll IS quickly passed tO a second read ing, and without knowing perhaps even the title, the house sends it the judi cisry committee who sends 1t back in two, three or four days, saying "it is a gOod bill" and the bill is up on final passage. No record is tsken, save in pencil, ot the vote on roll call; the bill is declared pass ed and sent to the Council where It is rushed along on the same plan, and finally the bIll goes to the gov ernOr vbo approves 1t, and 1t IS then de- clsred a law, possibly, taking effect ip. medi8tely." No one has seen 10 ID print, and a majority of the members themselves could pot state its contents.
 A great mass sf bills accumulated; the legislature adjourned and left the three commissioners to prepare these bulls for publication. IL is a fact tn at the only history of the daily transec- ticns of either brench of the l4sh, was tine respective Clerks pencil minutes, and no oJOurnals were read. signed and approved each day ID either House ss should have heen done. These pencil miu utss heve been in the charge Of one or two men besides the Commission CTS, and upon these memoranda of the clerks Tests the entire legality of the new code. What a fragile foundation for our tatufeE to rest upon! And yet the administrator would have all believe that DotbIng is lacking to give val.tity (, these laws. IEe recognized rules ID regard to journals were rot fol- lowed. and i, besrs the impress 0f error and will always carry n suspl ion that crOOkedness exists. 4 great latitude was gisen for corruption 10 flourish, thereby inviting attack and criticism. |, Is we'll that Congress should con sider and approve the Statutes before they became absolute, REG IL is the duty of our Delegate to prescn; this matter in its proper light for exsulraiion- tyJ :ae ueIt HOuse of hs?ressut@tiSSs. and to urge that body Co decide tbe que5- tiun as to the legality os the actions of the Lsgi-lalnre, Code Commission and | Territorial Secretary.
 Under the condition Ot the laws as | given into the custody of she COmmls- siODers. there is pertinent feature ID | regard to theSe Revised statutes which | hfTotd- opportunities for changing the | context of many of these laws. In many cases the bills passed third read ng in the same condition ss they were when presented to the House Ur Council, with the addition of pencil in,erline6tions embodyIng amendments offered and | passed. The Commissioners and SecTe- tsry had exclusive charge Ot these bills for twenty days after the adjournment of the legislature. in whicn to index and compile this code, and these facts show conclusively that this manner of wind ing up legislation WAS uDwise and open ed broad field for corruption. This matter needs close attention when Con gress passes upon the cole Globe Silver Belt.